Wake up Callum, you must free them. Use me, free them. You!? How are you here? I told you that you could not be rid of me so easily, did I not? But how? I banished you. You cannot banish me, I am you. I want nothing to do with you. Don't you? How else do you plan on saving them, Callum? Can a Sunfire Elf grow wings and fly as a Skywing? Can a Tidebound Elf turn as invisible as a Moonshadow on a full moon? You cannot save them if you do not use me.

What do you mean? You know exactly what I am saying, Callum. Because they were trapped by Dark Magic, they can only be freed by Dark Magic. Very good Callum, you are learning. I still want nothing to do with you, you are the reason I nearly die every time I come in contact with Dark Magic. You do not use me properly, everything has a cost, Callum. You cannot use Dark Magic and then push it away. What are you talking about now? There must be a balance, you cannot create one thing without losing another. We're done here. Far from it.

Callum's eye shot open, he was now looking up into a canopy of leaves and branches. He was still in the forest. On the bright side, he could actually remember what had happened the previous night. He blushed a little thinking about it. Rayla stirred next to him. "Morning." She smiled sleepily at him. "Mornin."

He kissed her forehead, "You look beautiful this morning." Rayla smiled. "It's too early for that." "It's never to early." Rayla just sighed. "Sappy prince." Callum started to get up, but Rayla put an arm over him. "We have to go back at some point." "No, stay longer." Callum looked up at the morning sky. "I have to talk with Queen Zubeia." Rayla looked in his eyes. "Fine, but you'll have to carry me."

Callum raised an eyebrow. "You went so hard last night, I don't think I can walk." Callum grinned, standing up and stretching. "That's your fault, I might have gone easier if I didn't have to chase you." "But I thought you liked a good chase." She almost sounded disappointed, but she was just teasing him. "I'll never get tired of chasing you." "I told you it's too early for that!" Callum just smiled at her.

That voice came back again. He thought to himself. It claims that it is, or rather, is some part of me. However, it's completely foreign. I had better keep this quiet for now, it's not that big of a deal compared to getting Rayla's parents free. "Come on Callum, I thought you wanted to head back." Rayla called over to him. "And I thought you couldn't walk." "It's amazing what hunger will do to you, now come on!"

"Hold on a second!" Rayla was about to run off. "I'll carry you, flying will be faster than walking." She grinned. "I knew you would." Callum rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah, now come on. We have to get up in the tree, I won't be able to take off from the ground." Rayla rolled her eyes, "You just flap your wings and you take off from the ground, so why is this any different?" She started climbing the tree.

"Because my wings were made to carry me, I need some speed if I'm going to carry you as well." As they climbed, Callum thought some more about that strange voice in his head. Is this typical for all Dark Mages? Do they all have a voice like that inside their head telling them what to do? Callum hadn't realized it, but he had stopped climbing. "Hey, Callum, what's the hold up?" Rayla called down from above him. "Nothing, I'm right behind you."

They made it to the top of the tree. "Ok, wrap your arms around my neck, but don't choke me," He instructed her. "Like this?" She placed her arms over his shoulders, pressing her hands against his chest. "Yeah, like that. Ready?" She nodded. "Ok, here we go." He activated his wings, and fell off the tree branch.

They started to gain speed as they fell. About halfway down, Callum pulled up. With Rayla on his back, it was hard and slow, but he managed. They went soaring into the sky. "Wow, this is...amazing." Rayla said in awe. "You see this every time you fly?" "Yeah, it's beautiful, isn't it?" He flapped his wings, carrying them higher. "We are definitely doing this again."

Callum took them higher and higher, Rayla's awe growing as they gained altitude. Eventually, they reached the top of the Spire, finally back home. Home. That word still struck deep with Callum, this was indeed his home now, but that didn't change the fact that he missed his old home, Katolis. His visits had become less frequent, but both he and Ezran had become busy.

They were greeted by Serrene, who looked almost ecstatic. "You're back! The guys had a bet going on how long it would take." Her eyes sparkled in the morning light. "Looks like I won." Callum and Rayla exchanged a look, and Callum shrugged his shoulders. "C'mon, people owe me and I made you guys some food, I figured you would be hungry." She winked at Callum, a movement not unnoticed by Rayla. "What do you mean you figured we would be hungry?"

"Oh, you know." Serrene's smile only grew broader. "Callum, you didn't," Rayla said, turning on him. Callum threw his hands up. "Don't look at me like that, I didn't say or do anything." Serrene laughed. "He's right, I figured it out. Now let's go before I lose the bet." Callum and Rayla followed Serrene into the Spire.

"Their back!" Serrene shouted down the hallway. "Everyone owes me!" Disbelief sounded from the area until both Callum and Rayla walked in. "So, how was it," Damien asked, his usual mischievous grin stretched across his face. "What do you mean?" Callum responded. "What do you mean," He jokingly mocked Callum's voice, "you know exactly what I mean." Callum looked unamused. "I thought you guys already figured out my night was far better than yours." Looks of amusement passed between the group. "YES! Two in a row!" Serrene said from behind them. "I thought you said you figured it out?"

Serrene grinned. "I said I figured it out, these numbskulls couldn't recognize the signs if they danced right in front of them." Rayla looked halfway between embarrassed and angry, Callum couldn't be bothered to care. "There you have it, my night was better than yours. I need to go talk to Queen Zubeia." And Callum was out.

"DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE ME...here." Rayla tried to get Callum's attention, but he was already gone. Serrene put an arm around Rayla. "So Captain." Rayla scowled, already sensing what was coming. "What do you want?" Serrene's grin turned evil. "De-tails." "Absolutely not!"

Callum arrived at Queen Zubeia's chamber a few minutes after leaving Rayla behind, he didn't mean to leave her like that, but this was far too important to wait. "Queen Zubeia? May I come in?" Callum said, waiting outside. "You may, prince Callum." He walked into the grand chamber. "I needed to speak with you." He explained halfheartedly. "What troubles you? The Captain perhaps?" "Oh what? Nonono, we're good, really good. Nevermind that." He stuttered out.

The Dragon Queen laughed. "Of course, my apologies. What is it that you need." Callum went on to explain his plan. "As you know, Rayla's parents were...trapped. And I've been thinking of a way to free them. I have an idea, but you aren't going to like it, no one is." Queen Zubeia tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you see… how do I put this? Ok. So, like a Skywing elf can only connect to the Sky Arcanum, and wouldn't be able to turn invisible on a full moon like a Moonshadow elf, seeing as how Rayla's parents were trapped using Dark Magic, I believe that the only way to free them-" "Would be to use Dark Magic." The Dragon Queen finished his thought. "Callum, you know that I cannot allow this." "Well, that's not what I was here to ask." Queen Zubeia raised an eyebrow. "I'm here to ask for your permission to return to Katolis."

"I know that my brother, King Ezran and the Queen of Duren have been working to ban Dark Magic across all of the human kingdoms. But I need to see if maybe there is a forgotten text that would allow me to free them, without Dark Magic or with some sort of workaround." Queen Zubeia closed her eyes, entering a deep thought. "Hmmmm. What you ask, is troubling." "I know, but please, if there is even a chance to free them, I want to take it. For her."

"I will allow you to go and see if you can find anything, but you must promise me one thing." Callum looked Queen Zubeia in the eyes. "Anything." "Should you find something in your search, be it a text or a ruin, destroy any trace of it once you are done." Callum nodded. "As you wish. Oh and one more thing, is ok with you if Rayla comes along?" "Of course, bring Ibis as well, he might be able to help you. Good hunting, prince Callum."

Callum smiled and bowed. "Thank you, your majesty." Callum left the Queen's chamber to find Ibis waiting for him outside. "I couldn't help but overhear, do you really believe that Dark Magic is the only way?" Callum looked at the ground. "I really hope it isn't."

Sorry this chapter is so short, the last chapter was a big one and it was hard to write this one well, so It just kinda turned into a transition period. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed!